HAYS, Kan. (Sept. 7, 2017) - Thirteenth-ranked Mules Football could not get much going at Fort Hays State (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) Thursday night. They were held without a touchdown in their 35-6 loss to the Tigers.
How It Happened
• Fort Hays State scored on their opening possession and never looked back, leading the rest of the way. The Tigers got a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first half, a 31-yarder from Kenneth Iheme to start the scoring and a one-yard rush from Harley Hazlett on fourth down to go up 14-0.
• The Tigers took a 21-0 lead when Monterio Burchfield hauled in a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacob Mezera.
• Central Missouri finally got on the board near the end of the half with a 34-yard field goal from
Alex Langer. They had another chance to score before the half, but elected to go for it on fourth down from the 16, instead of attempting a 33-yard field goal.
• The Mules got inside the five on their opening possession of the second half, but could only muster a field goal out of the 14-play drive. The Tigers responded with a quick two-play touchdown drive and put the game out of reach with a seven-yard touchdown from Layne Bieberle, his second of the game.
It Was Over When...
• Central Missouri made it a two-score game, 21-6 after Langer's second field goal of the game to start the second half. The momentum didn't last long as just two plays later the Tigers scored on a 71-yard pass down the left sideline from Mezera to Bieberle. The score made it 28-6 in favor of the home team and swung all of the momentum back towards the Tigers.
Stat Leaders
• Trailing early, the Mules were forced to throw the ball. A lot. quarterback
Brook Bolles completed 29-of-53 passes for 273 yards.
•
Jaylen Zachery,
Kyrion Parker and
Seth Hebert all caught seven passes. Zachery led the team with 84 yards while Parker finished with 67 and Hebert gained 60.
• Central Missouri couldn't gain much on the ground. A week after rushing for 244 yard, UCM could only muster 31 total yards rushing.
Koby Wilkerson took 10 handoffs for 22 yards to lead UCM.
• The Tiger defense forced the Mules to punt six times.
Zach Davidson averaged 47.7 yards per kick with a long of 66.
• Langer remains perfect on the season in field goal attempts. He knocked in a pair from 34 and 21 yards out.
• Defensively
Jackson Newman got the start at safety and finished with a game-high 10 tackles.
•
Tanner Kanak was the only Mule defender to get to the quarterback, for a nine-yard sack.
For the Tigers
• Fort Hays rushed the ball 36 times for 150 yards. The tandem of Charles Tinger and Iheme combined for 135 of them. Tinger led the charge with a game-high 70 while Iheme finished with 65.
• Mezera completed 18-of-31 pass attempts for 227 yards and three scores. Bieberle was the biggest recipient with 107 yards and two touchdowns on four catches. Tyler Bacon caught a team-best six passes for 43 yards and Burchfield finished with 33 yards and a touchdown on four receptions.
• The Tiger defense brought Bolles down three times for 17 yards. Aquil Knowles led the team with eight tackles. Nathan Shepard finished with seven tackles and a sack.
News and Notes
• The last time the Mules were held without a touchdown was all the way back in 2011 when they fell at Missouri Western.
• The 29-point margin of defeat is the largest of the Coach Svoboda era.
• The Mules will start 1-1 for the sixth time in eight years under Svoboda.
• Central Missouri is 1-2 in their last three trips to Hays dating back to 2012.
• In two games the Mules have just one takeaway on defense, a fumble recovery against Pittsburg State.
• Zachery with his seven receptions moved into a tie for fifth place all-time in UCM history with 132.
•
Diaron Rhodes broke up a pass against the Tigers, the 23 of his career tying Marlin Johnson (1993-96) for the most in Mules football history.
Up Next
• Central Missouri has a long week with nine days before their next game. They return home to face Missouri Western for family weekend Saturday, Sept. 16. The Griffons defeated Missouri Southern 45-7 and like the Mules are 1-1 to start the season.
